It appears that Yahoo may be making moves for a potential comeback, particularly if recent antitrust issues force Google to sell its Chrome browser. This revelation comes amidst the Department of Justice’s ongoing battle to address Google’s significant search monopoly.
As the situation unfolds, it adds an intriguing twist to the legal proceedings that could disrupt the tech industry. Reports indicate that Yahoo hasn’t been idle; since last summer, they have been quietly developing a prototype browser.
This development comes in the wake of a court ruling stating that Google holds an unfair monopoly over search, leading the DOJ to propose remedies, one of the most significant being the divestiture of Chrome. Google currently controls approximately two-thirds of the global browser market, leaving competitors like Apple’s Safari and Microsoft’s Edge far behind.
The DOJ argues that owning Chrome enables Google to maintain its dominance in search. Yahoo’s search chief, Brian Provost, noted that around 60% of internet searches occur directly within the browser, underscoring the strategic importance of owning a browser.
Yahoo enjoyed considerable success in the late ’90s and early 2000s, and this potential acquisition could allow them to vastly increase their modest search market share of just 3%. However, Yahoo is not the only company eyeing this opportunity.
AI firms, such as OpenAI and Perplexity, have expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, with OpenAI envisioning an “AI-first browser.” Interestingly, Apollo Global Management—the owner of Yahoo—could facilitate a multi-billion dollar purchase. As a historical echo, Apollo also owns Netscape, which famously faltered against Microsoft during a previous antitrust case.
It’s fascinating to see how history may be repeating itself as these developments unfold.